Air conditioner and evaporator inlet header distributor therefor

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner and evaporator inlet header distributor therefor are provided. The air conditioner may include an evaporator inlet header distributor to distribute a refrigerant expanded in an expansion mechanism to a plurality of refrigerant flow paths of an evaporator. The evaporator inlet header distributor may include a distributor body, a refrigerant inlet pipe to guide refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to an inside of the distributor body, a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes to discharge the refrigerant from the distributor body into the plurality of refrigerant flow paths, and a separating plate to separate the inside of the distributor body into a header flow path connected with the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes and a refrigerant dispersing flow path connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe to guide an upper portion and a lower portion of the header flow path by dispersing the refrigerant. Accordingly, two-phase refrigerant may be uniformly distributed to the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes using a simple structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to Korean Application Nos.10-2012-0123703, 10-2012-0123704, and 10-2012-0123705, filed in Korea onNov. 2, 2012, the subject matter of each of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

An air conditioner and an evaporator inlet header distributor thereforare disclosed herein.

2. Background

Air conditioners and distributors therefor are known. However, theysuffer from various disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional diagram of a refrigerantoutlet pipe and a liquid refrigerant suction line in the evaporatorinlet header distributor of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will be described with reference to appended drawings. Wherepossible, like names and reference numerals have been used to indicatelike or similar elements, and repetitive description has been omitted.

In general, an air conditioner is a device that cools or heats an indoorspace using a refrigerant cycle during which a refrigerant is circulatedand may be sequentially compressed, condensed, expanded, and evaporated.Cooling and heating functions may be performed by suctioning ambientheat when vaporizing the refrigerant and discharging heat whenliquefying the refrigerant.

The air conditioner may include a compressor, a compressor, a condenser,an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator to circulate the refrigerant.The refrigerant passing through the expansion mechanism may flow intothe evaporator in a state of a two-phase refrigerant including gaseousrefrigerant and liquid refrigerant. One refrigerant flow path may beformed in the evaporator, or a plurality of refrigerant flow paths maybe formed. In such an air conditioner, if the evaporator is configuredto have a plurality of refrigerant flow paths, the two-phase refrigeranthaving flowed into the expansion mechanism may be distributed to theplurality of refrigerant flow paths, such that the refrigerant may beevaporated in each refrigerant flow path and thereafter flow to thecompressor.

In conventional air conditioners, liquid refrigerant may be excessivelyintroduced into a portion of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths ofthe evaporator, and the efficiency of the evaporator may be degraded dueto variations in the amount of liquid refrigerant in the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to anembodiment. The air conditioner AC of FIG. 1 may include a compressor 1,a first heat exchanger 2, an expansion mechanism 3, and a second heatexchanger 4.

The air conditioner may be an air conditioner that only cools an indoorspace using a refrigerant, or a two-way air conditioner that cools andheats the indoor space using a refrigerant.

If the air conditioner is an air conditioner that only cools, therefrigerant compressed in the compressor 1 may be suctioned by thecompressor 1 after the refrigerant is sequentially passed through thesecond heat exchanger 4, the expansion mechanism 3, and the first heatexchanger 2; the second heat exchanger 4 may be an outdoor heatexchanger to heat-exchange the outdoor air or a coolant and may be acondenser to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 1,and the first heat exchanger 2 may be an indoor heat exchanger toheat-exchange the indoor air with the refrigerant and may be anevaporator to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism 3. Further, an evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ may beinstalled between the expansion mechanism 3 and the first heat exchanger2, and the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ may distribute therefrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism 3 to the first heatexchanger 2.

A plurality of refrigerant flow paths may be formed in the second heatexchanger 4, a condenser inlet branch portion (not shown) may beinstalled between the first compressor 1 and the second heat exchanger4, and a condenser outlet combined portion (not shown) may be installedbetween the second heat exchanger 4 and expansion mechanism 3. Thecondenser inlet branch portion may uniformly distribute the gaseousrefrigerant compressed in the compressor 1 to the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths of the second heat exchanger 4. The refrigerantcondensed in the plurality of refrigerant flow paths of the second heatexchanger 4 may be combined in a condenser outlet combined portion (notshown), and then, may flow into the expansion mechanism 3.

A plurality of refrigerant flow paths may be formed in the first heatexchanger 2, the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ may be installedbetween the expansion mechanism 3 and the first heat exchanger 2, and anevaporator outlet header pipe 6′ may be installed between the first heatexchanger 2 and the compressor 1. The evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5′ may uniformly distribute the gaseous refrigerant and theliquid refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths of thefirst heat exchanger 2. The refrigerant evaporated in the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths of the first heat exchanger 2 may be suctionedinto the compressor 1 after being combined in evaporator outlet headerpipe 6′.

If the air conditioner is a two-way air conditioner that cools andheats, a cooling operation or a heating operation may be performed. Whenperforming the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in thecompressor 1 may be sequentially passed through the second heatexchanger 4, the expansion mechanism 3, and the first heat exchanger 2,and then, may be suctioned into the compressor 1. The second heatexchanger 4 may be an outdoor heat exchanger to heat-exchange theoutdoor air or the coolant with refrigerant, and may be a condenser aswell. The first heat exchanger 2 may be configured as an indoor heatexchanger to heat-exchange the indoor air with the refrigerant, and maybe an evaporator as well. When performing the heating operation, therefrigerant compressed in the compressor 1 may be sequentially passedthrough the first heat exchanger 2, the expansion mechanism 3 and thesecond heat exchanger 4, and then, may be suctioned into the compressor1. The first heat exchanger 2 may be an indoor heat exchanger toheat-exchange the indoor air with the refrigerant, and may be acondenser as well. The second heat exchanger 4 may be an outdoor heatexchanger to heat-exchange the outdoor air or the coolant with therefrigerant, and may be an evaporator as well.

If the air conditioner is the two-way air conditioner, a plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths may be provided in the first heat exchanger 2,and the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ may be installed betweenthe expansion mechanism 3 and the first heat exchanger 2. Whenperforming the cooling operation, the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5′ may distribute the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism 3 to the first heat exchanger 2. When performing the coolingoperation, the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ may uniformlydistribute the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant to theplurality of refrigerant flow paths of the first heat exchanger 2. Theevaporator outlet header pipe 6′ may be installed between the first heatexchanger 2 and the compressor 1. When performing the cooling operation,the refrigerant expanded in the plurality of refrigerant flow paths ofthe first heat exchanger 2 may be combined in the evaporator outletheader pipe 6′ and then, may be suctioned into the compressor 1. If theair conditioner is the two-way air conditioner, the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths may be formed in the second heat exchanger 4, andan evaporator inlet header distributor 5 may be formed between theexpansion mechanism 3 and the second heat exchanger 4. When performingthe heating operation, the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 maydistribute the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism 3 to thesecond heat exchanger 4, and the evaporator inlet header distributor 5may uniformly distribute gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant tothe plurality of refrigerant flow paths of the second heat exchanger 4.The evaporator outlet header pipe 6 may be installed between the secondheat exchanger 4 and the compressor 1. When performing the coolingoperation, the refrigerant expanded in the plurality of refrigerant flowpaths of the second heat exchanger 4 may be combined in the evaporatoroutlet header pipe 6, and then, may flow into the compressor 1. In otherwords, it is possible that in the air conditioner AC, the first heatexchanger 2 and the second heat exchanger 4 each may have a plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths, the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ maybe installed between the expansion mechanism 3 and the first heatexchanger 2, and the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 may beinstalled between the expansion mechanism 3 and the second heatexchanger 4.

Further, although the first heat exchanger 2 may have the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths, and the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′may be installed between the expansion mechanism 3 and the first heatexchanger 2, it is possible that the evaporator inlet header distributor5 may not be installed between the expansion mechanism 3 and the secondheat exchanger 4. In addition, although the second heat exchanger 4 mayhave the plurality of refrigerant flow paths and the evaporator inletheader distributor 5 may be installed between the expansion mechanism 3and the second heat exchanger 4, it is possible that the evaporatorinlet header distributor 5′ may be not installed between the expansionmechanism 3 and the first heat exchanger 2.

Hereinbelow, the air conditioner configured as a heat pump, which is atwo-way air conditioner that cools and heats, will be described. Withsuch a configuration, the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ may beinstalled between the expansion mechanism 3 and the first heat exchanger2, and the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 may be installedbetween the expansion mechanism 3 and the second heat exchanger 4. Theair conditioner may further include a cooling-heating switching valve 7that switches the refrigerant flow path when performing the coolingoperation and the heating operation.

The compressor 1 may compress the refrigerant evaporated in theevaporator, and the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator may besuctioned and discharged. A compressor suction flow path 11 may beconnected to one side of the compressor 1, the refrigerant beingsuctioned into the compressor 1 via the compressor suction flow path 11,and a compressor discharge flow path 12 may be connected to the otherside of the compressor 1, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 1being discharged into the compressor discharge flow path 12. Anaccumulator 13 may be installed in the compressor suction flow path 11.The accumulator 13 may contain liquid refrigerant and guide gaseousrefrigerant to the compressor suction flow path 11. One end of thecompressor suction flow path 11 may be connected to the compressor 1,and the other end of the compressor suction flow path 11 may beconnected to the cooling-heating switching valve 7. One end of thecompressor discharge flow path 12 may be connected to the compressor 1,and the other end of the compressor discharge flow path 12 may beconnected to the cooling-heating switching valve 7.

When performing the cooling operation, the first heat exchanger 2 may bean evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant distributed by theevaporator inlet header 5 after being expanded in the expansionmechanism 3, and when performing the heating operation, the first heatexchanger 2 may be a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressedin the compressor 1. The first heat exchanger 2 may heat-exchange withair blown by indoor fan 8 with the refrigerant and may be installed inan indoor device I together with the indoor fan 8. The first heatexchanger 2 may be configured, for example, as a fin-tube type heatexchanger or a plate type heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger 2 mayinclude a plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23, and 24. Whenperforming the cooling operation, the first heat exchanger 2 may have anoverall higher heat-exchanging performance in a case in which atwo-phase refrigerant, in which liquid refrigerant and gaseousrefrigerant are mixed, is uniformly distributed to the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24, and the first heat exchanger 2may have an overall lower heat-exchanging performance in a case in whichliquid refrigerant is concentrated into a portion of the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24. In the first heat exchanger 2,one end of each of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths' 21, 22, 23and 24 may be connected to the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′and the other end of each of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21,22, 23 and 24 may be connected to the evaporator outlet header pipe 6′.The evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ connected to the first heatexchanger 2 may be connected by an expansion mechanism 3 and anexpansion mechanism connecting flow path 51. The evaporator outletheader pipe 6′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2 may be connectedto the cooling-heating switching valve 7 and a cooling-heating switchingvalve connecting flow path 61.

The expansion mechanism 3 may expand the refrigerant condensed in thecondenser and may include an expansion valve or a capillary tube, suchas an EEV or LEV. The expansion mechanism 3 may include one or aplurality of expansion mechanisms. If the first heat exchanger 2 and thesecond heat exchanger 4 is each connected to an evaporator inlet headerdistributors 5, 5′, the expansion mechanism 3 may be installed betweenthe evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ to which the first heatexchanger 2 may be connected and the evaporator inlet header distributor5 to which the second heat exchanger 4 may be connected.

When performing the cooling operation, the refrigerant condensed in thesecond heat exchanger 4 may flow according to an order of the evaporatorinlet header distributor 5, to which the second heat exchanger 4 may beconnected, the expansion mechanism 3, the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5′, to which the first heat exchanger 2 may be connected,and the first heat exchanger 2. On the other hand, when performing theheating operation, the refrigerant condensed in the first heat exchanger2 may flow according to the order of the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5′, to which the first heat exchanger 2 may be connected,the expansion mechanism 3, the evaporator inlet header distributor 5, towhich the second heat exchanger 4 may be connected, and the second heatexchanger 4. One expansion mechanism may be installed in any one of theoutdoor device O or the indoor device I, and or an indoor expansionmechanism may be installed in the indoor device I, and an outdoorexpansion mechanism may be installed in the outdoor device O.

When performing the cooling operation, the second heat exchanger 4 maybe a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in thecompressor 1, and when performing the heating operation, the second heatexchanger 4 may be an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerantuniformly distributed by the evaporator inlet header 5 after beingexpanded in the expansion mechanism 3. The second heat exchanger 4 maybe configured as an air-cooling heat exchanger that heat-exchanges airblown in by outdoor fan 9 with refrigerant and may be configured as awater-cooling heat exchanger that heat-exchange coolant supplied from acoolant supply source with the refrigerant. If the second heat exchanger4 is configured as the air-cooling heat exchanger, it may be configuredas, for example, a fin-tube type heat exchanger or a plate type heatexchanger. If the second heat exchanger 4 is configured as awater-cooling heat exchanger, it may be configured as a shell-tube typeheat exchanger. The second heat exchanger 4 may be installed in theoutdoor device O together with the compressor 1 and the outdoor fan 9.

The second heat exchanger 4 may include a plurality of refrigerant flowpaths 41, 42, 43 and 44. When performing the heating operation, thesecond heat exchanger 4 may have an overall higher heat-exchangingperformance in a case in which a two-phase refrigerant, in which liquidrefrigerant and gaseous refrigerant are mixed, may be uniformlydistributed to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and44, and the second heat exchanger 4 may have an overall lowerheat-exchanging performance in a case in which liquid refrigerant may beconcentrated into a portion of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths41, 42, 43 and 44.

In the second heat exchanger 4, one end of each of the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44 may be connected to theevaporator inlet header distributor 5, and the other end of each of theplurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44 may be connectedto the evaporator outlet header pipe 6. The evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5 connected to the second heat exchanger 4 may be connectedby the expansion mechanism 3 and an expansion mechanism connecting flowpath 52. The evaporator outlet header pipe 6 connected to the secondheat exchanger 4 may be connected to the cooling-heating switching valve7 and a cooling-heating switching valve connecting flow path 62. Theevaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ may uniformly distribute thetwo-phase refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths suchthat liquid refrigerant may not be concentrated to a portion of theplurality of refrigerant flow paths of the evaporator.

The cooling-heating switching valve 7 may be a 4-way valve. Whenperforming the cooling operation, the cooling-heating switching valve 7may guide the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 1 to theevaporator outlet header pipe 6 connected to the second heat exchanger4, and guide the refrigerant flow from the evaporator outlet header pipe6′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2 into the compressor suctionflow path 11. When performing the heating operation, the cooling-heatingswitching valve 7 may guide the refrigerant compressed in the compressor1 to evaporator outlet header pipe 6′ connected to the first heatexchanger 2, and guide the refrigerant flow from the evaporator outletheader pipe 6 connected to the second heat exchanger 4 into thecompressor suction flow path 11.

FIG. 2 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in the air conditioner of FIG. 1. Theevaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ may include a distributor body60, a refrigerant inlet pipe 70 to guide refrigerant expanded in theexpansion mechanism 3 inside of the distributor body 60, and a pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 through which therefrigerant of the distributor body 60 may flow into the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths of the evaporator. In the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5, 5′, one refrigerant outlet pipe may be connected to onerefrigerant flow path of the evaporator. The evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5, 5′ may include a header flow path P1 through whichtwo-phase refrigerant may be distributed to the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86, and a refrigerant dispersing flow pathP2 that guides a flow of the two-phase refrigerant such that thetwo-phase refrigerant may be distributed and introduced into an upperportion 63 a and a lower portion 63 b of the header flow path P1. In theevaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′, the two-phase refrigerantpassing through the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 may be distributed by therefrigerant dispersing flow path P2 to an upper side flow path P21 and alower side flow path P22 in a substantially vertical or up and downdirection, the two-phase refrigerant guided to the upper side flow pathP21 may flow into the upper portion 63 a of the header flow path P1, andthe two-phase refrigerant guided to the lower side flow path P22 mayflow into the lower portion 63 b of the header flow path P2. Theevaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ may include a separating plate90 disposed inside of the distributor body 60. The separating plate 90may separate the inside of the distributor body 60 into the header flowpath P1 connected with the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82,84 and 86 and the refrigerant dispersing flow path P2 connected with therefrigerant inlet pipe 70.

The distributor body 60 may be positioned in the air conditioner so asto extend in a substantially vertical or up and down direction. Acircumferential portion 60 a of the distributor body 60 may bepositioned so as to extend in a substantially vertical or up and downdirection, and the upper portion 63 a and the lower portion 63 b may berounded. The upper portion 63 a may be at a top of the circumferentialportion 60 a, and the lower portion 63 b may be at a bottom of thecircumferential portion 60 a. The circumferential portion 60 a may beformed in a hollow cylindrical shape or a hollow square bucket shape. Ifthe upper portion 63 a is rounded, the two-phase refrigerant of therefrigerant dispersing flow path P2 may easily flow into the upperportion 63 a of the header flow path P1. If the lower portion 63 b isrounded, the two-phase refrigerant of the refrigerant dispersing flowpath P2 may easily flow into the lower portion 63 b of the header flowpath P1. A refrigerant inlet pipe connecting portion 64 may be formed,and the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 may penetrate or be connected throughthe refrigerant inlet pipe connecting portion 64. Further, refrigerantoutlet pipe penetration holes 65, 66, 67 and 68 may be formed, and theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 may penetratethrough the refrigerant outlet pipe penetration holes 65, 66, 67 and 68,respectively.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, thedistributor body 60 may be installed to be located on a side of thefirst heat exchanger 2. If the evaporator inlet header distributor isthe evaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected to the second heatexchanger 4, the distributor body 60 may be installed to be located on aside of the second heat exchanger 4. The distributor body 60 may beinstalled to be separated from the evaporator outlet header pipe 6, 6′shown in FIG. 1, and the first heat exchanger 2 and the second heatexchanger 4 may each be disposed between the distributor body 60 and theevaporator outlet header pipe 6, 6′ shown in FIG. 1.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5′ connected with the first heat exchanger 2, therefrigerant inlet pipe 70 may be connected to the expansion mechanismconnecting flow path 51 shown in FIG. 1. If the evaporator inlet headerdistributor is the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected withthe second heat exchanger 4, the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 may beconnected to the expansion mechanism connecting flow path 52 shown inFIG. 1.

The refrigerant inlet pipe 70 may penetrate the distributor body 60, orbe disposed outside of distributor body 60 to be in contact with thedistributor body 60. The refrigerant inlet pipe 70 may be installed inthe distributor body 60. An inlet stage 71 of the refrigerant inlet pipe70 may be located outside of the distributor body 60, the refrigerantbeing introduced in through the inlet stage 71 and turned inside of thedistributor body 60 at an outlet stage 72, the refrigerant beingdischarged to the inside of the distributor body 60 through the outletstage 72. In the refrigerant inlet pipe 70, a direction for injectingthe refrigerant may be determined according to the direction of theoutlet stage 72; the outlet stage 72 may be installed to inject thetwo-phase refrigerant to be turned at the separating plate 90. That is,the outlet stage 72 may be installed to face the separating plate 90.

The refrigerant inlet pipe 70 may be horizontally or obliquely disposedwith respect to the distributor body 60. If the refrigerant inlet pipe70 is obliquely disposed on the distributor body 60 directed upwardly,more of the two-phase refrigerant may flow into the upper side flow pathP21 of the refrigerant dispersing flow path P2, and if it is obliquelydisposed on the distributor body 60 directed downwardly, more of thetwo-phase refrigerant may flow into the lower side flow path P22 of therefrigerant dispersing flow path P2. If the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 isinstalled on a horizontal central axis HX, the two-phase refrigerant maybe uniformly distributed to the upper side flow path 21 and the lowerside flow path P22. If the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 is installed at alocation higher than the horizontal central axis HX, more of thetwo-phase refrigerant flowing into the upper side flow path 21 may flowinto the lower side flow path P22, and if it is installed at a locationlower than the horizontal central axis HX, more of the two-phaserefrigerant flow into the upper side flow path P21. Thus, therefrigerant inlet pipe 70 may be horizontally disposed on the horizontalcentral axis HX, upwardly obliquely or downwardly obliquely disposed ata location higher than the horizontal central axis HX, or upwardlyobliquely or downwardly obliquely disposed at a location lower than thehorizontal central axis HX. Further, the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 mayinclude a single refrigerant inlet pipe connected to a first side ofleft and right sides of the distributor body 60 based on the verticalcenter axis VX of the distributor body 60.

The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 maypenetrate a second side of the left and right sides of the distributorbody 60 based on the vertical center axis VX of the distributor body 60.If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5′ connected with the first heat exchanger 2, therefrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 may each be connected to therefrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the first heat exchanger 2.One refrigerant outlet pipe may be connected each to one refrigerantflow path of the first heat exchanger 2. If the evaporator inlet headerdistributor is the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected withthe second heat exchanger 4, the refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and86 may be each connected to the refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44of the second heat exchanger 4. One refrigerant outlet pipe may beconnected each to one refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger4. The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 maypenetrate the distributor body 60, or may be separated from thedistributor body 60. The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82,84 and 86 may be inserted into the header flow path P1. An inlet stage88 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 mayeach be located in the header flow path P1, and an outlet stage 89thereof may each be located outside of the distributor body 60. Theinlet stage 88 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84and 86 may be disposed to be opposed to the separating plate 90. If theoutlet stage 72 of the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 is disposed to beopposed to a first surface 95 of the separating plate 90, the inletstage 88 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86may each be disposed to be opposed to a second (opposite) surface 96opposite to the first surface 95.

The separating plate 90 may be substantially vertically disposed insideof the distributor body 60. A top 92 of the separating plate 90 may beseparated from a top of the distributor body 60, and a bottom 94 thereofmay be separated from a bottom of the distributor body 60. An upper endand a lower end of the header flow path P1 and the refrigerantdispersing flow path P2 may each be connected. In the inside of thedistributor body 60, the header flow path P1 and the refrigerantdispersing flow path P2 may be separated to the left and right based onthe separating plate 90, the upper side flow path P21 of the refrigerantdispersing flow path P2 and the header flow path P1 may be connected inthe form of a ‘∩’ cross-sectional shape, and the lower side flow pathP22 of the refrigerant dispersing flow path P2 and the header flow pathP1 may be connected in the form of a ‘∪’ cross-sectional shape. Aboundary between the upper side flow path P21 of the refrigerantdispersing flow path P2 and the header flow path P1 may be formedbetween the top 92 of the separating plate 90 and the top of thedistributor body 60, and a boundary between a lower side flow path P22of the refrigerant dispersing flow path P2 and the header flow path P1may be formed between the bottom 94 of the separating plate 90 and thebottom of the distributor body 60. The separating plate 90 may beinstalled such that a distance L1 from the refrigerant inlet pipe 70 tothe first surface 95 of the separation plate 90 is shorter than adistance L2 from the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84and 86 to the second surface 96 of the separation plate.

Hereinafter, operation of an embodiment configured as described abovewill be described as follows.

First, when performing the heating operation of the air conditioner, thecompressor 1 may compress the refrigerant, the first heat exchanger 2may be a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, the expansionmechanism 3 may expand the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, theevaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected to the second heatexchanger 4 may distribute the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism 3 to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44of the second heat exchanger 4, the second heat exchanger 4 may be anevaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, and the compressor 1 maycompress the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator.

Gaseous refrigerant at a high-temperature and high-pressure may bedischarged from the compressor 1, and may then be condensed in the firstheat exchanger 2, which may function as a condenser. The refrigerantcondensed in the first heat exchanger 2 may be expanded by the expansionmechanism 3, and the two-phase refrigerant of liquid refrigerant andgaseous refrigerant may flow into the evaporator inlet refrigerantdistributor 5 connected to the second heat exchanger 4, which mayfunction as an evaporator.

The two-phase refrigerant having flowed into the evaporator inletrefrigerant distributor 5 may flow into the refrigerant dispersing flowpath P1 of the distributor body 60 through the refrigerant inlet pipe70, and may be dispersed into the upper side flow path P21 and the lowerside flow path P22 between the distributor body 60 and the separatingplate 90 in the substantially vertical or up and down direction. Aportion of the two-phase refrigerant may flow into the upper side flowpath P21, flow beyond the top 92 of the separating plate 90, and flowinto the upper portion of the header flow path P2, and the rest of thetwo-phase refrigerant may flow into the lower side flow path P22, flowbeyond the bottom 94 of the separating plate 90, and flow into the lowerportion of the header flow path P2.

If the two-phase refrigerant is configured to flow into only one side ofthe upper portion of the header flow path P2 or the lower portion of theheader flow path P2, in the evaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′,liquid refrigerant may be concentrated to a portion of the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 by momentum. The two-phaserefrigerant having flowed into the header flow path P2 via the top 92 ofthe separating plate 90 and the two-phase refrigerant having flowed intothe header flow path P2 via the bottom 94 of the separating plate 90 maybe mixed in the header flow path P2. The refrigerant having flowed intothe header flow path P2 by being dispersed in the up and down directionsmay be uniformly distributed into the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 80, 82, 84 and 86. Thus, liquid refrigerant being concentrated ina portion of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86may be minimized, and the two-phase refrigerant may be uniformlydistributed to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44of the evaporator and evaporated.

The refrigerant evaporated in the plurality of refrigerant flow paths41, 42, 43 and 44 may be injected into the evaporator outlet header pipe6 connected to the second heat exchanger 4, and may again be mixedinside of the evaporator outlet header pipe 6. The refrigerant may flowinto the compressor 1, and the compressor 1 may compress the refrigerantevaporated in the second heat exchanger 4, which may function as anevaporator.

When performing the cooling operation of the air conditioner, thecompressor 1 may compress the refrigerant, the second heat exchanger 4may be a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, the expansionmechanism 3 may expand the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, theevaporator inlet header distributor 5′ connected to the first heatexchanger 2 may distribute the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism 3 to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24of the first heat exchanger 4, the first heat exchanger 2 may be anevaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, and the compressor 1 maycompress the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator.

Gaseous refrigerant at a high-temperature and high-pressure may bedischarged from the compressor 1, and may then be condensed in thesecond heat exchanger 4, which may function as a condenser. Therefrigerant condensed in the second heat exchanger 4 may be expanded bythe expansion mechanism 3, and the two-phase refrigerant of liquidrefrigerant and gaseous refrigerant may flow into the evaporator inletrefrigerant distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2,which may function as an evaporator.

The two-phase refrigerant having flowed into the evaporator inletrefrigerant distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2 maybe dispersed to the upper side flow path P21 and the lower side flowpath P22 in the refrigerant dispersing flow path P1 and then, may flowinto the upper portion and lower portion of the header flow path P1, maybe again mixed in the header flow path P1, and may be uniformlydistributed to the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and86.

The two-phase refrigerant may be uniformly distributed to the pluralityof refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the evaporator to beevaporated. The refrigerant evaporated in the plurality of refrigerantflow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24 may be injected into the evaporator outletheader pipe 6′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, and may again bemixed inside of the evaporator outlet header pipe 6′. The refrigerantmay flow into the compressor 1, and the compressor 1 may compress therefrigerant evaporated in the first heat exchanger 2, which may functionas an evaporator.

FIG. 3 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment. In the air conditioner according to this embodiment, theevaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ may include a distributor body60′ formed with a header flow path P3 therein, a lower refrigerant inletpipe 70′ to guide the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism 3to a lower portion of the header flow path P3, an upper refrigerantinlet pipe 70″ to guide the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism 3 to an upper portion of the header flow path P3, and aplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 through whichthe refrigerant of the distributor body 60′ may be discharged to therefrigerant flow path of the evaporator. An outlet stage 72′ of thelower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ and an outlet stage 72″ of the upperrefrigerant inlet pipe 70″ may be disposed to face each other in thesubstantially vertical or up and down direction. The configuration andoperation of the air conditioner of this embodiment is similar to theprevious embodiment, except for the evaporator inlet header distributor5, 5′, and thus, repetitive description thereof has been omitted.

The distributor body 60′ may be formed with the inner flow path P3,which corresponds to the header flow path P1 of the previous embodiment.The distributor body 60′ may be formed to extend in a substantiallyvertical direction in the air conditioner, similar to the distributorbody 60 of the previous embodiment. A circumference portion 60 a′ of thedistributor body 60′ may extend in a substantially vertical direction,such that an upper portion 63 a′ may be formed at a top of thecircumference portion 60 a′, and a lower portion 63 b′ may be formed ata bottom of the circumference portion 60 a′. In the distributor body60′, a lower refrigerant inlet pipe connecting portion 64′ may penetrateor connect to the lower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′, and the upperrefrigerant inlet pipe connecting portion 64″ may penetrate or connectto the upper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″. Alternatively, the lowerrefrigerant inlet pipe connecting portion 64′ may be formed on the lowerportion 63 b′ of the distributor body 60, and the upper refrigerantinlet pipe connecting portion 64″ may be on the upper portion 63 a′ ofthe distributor body 60. A plurality of refrigerant outlet pipepenetration holes 65, 66, 67 and 68 may be formed through which theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 may penetrate.

The lower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ and the upper refrigerant inletpipe 70″ may be branched from the expansion mechanism connecting flowpath 51, 52. The lower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ and the upperrefrigerant inlet pipe 70″ may be directly connected to the expansionmechanism connecting flow path 51, 52, or may be connected to theexpansion mechanism connecting flow path 51, 52 through a separaterefrigerant distributor 98.

The outlet stage 72′ of the lower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ and theoutlet stage 72″ of the upper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″ may be locatedon a vertical center axis VX of the distributor body 60′. The lowerrefrigerant inlet pipe 70′ may be connected to the lower portion 63 b′of the distributor body 60, and the upper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″ maybe connected to the upper portion 63 a′ of the distributor body 60. Thelower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ and the upper refrigerant inlet pipe70″ may correspond to the refrigerant dispersing flow path P2 of theprevious embodiment. The lower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ may correspondto the lower side flow path P22 of the previous embodiment, and theupper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″ may correspond to the upper side flowpath P21 of the previous embodiment. If the lower refrigerant inlet pipe70′ and the upper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″ are installed side by sideclose to each other on the circumference portion 60 a′ of thedistributor body 60, the two-phase refrigerant may be concentrated inrefrigerant outlet pipes 82 and 84 roughly located at a middle portionof the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86. On theother hand, if the outlet stage 72′ of the lower refrigerant inlet pipe70′ and the outlet stage 72″ of the upper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″ aredisposed to face each other in the substantially vertical or up and downdirection, the two-phase refrigerant upwardly flowing from the outletstage 72′ of the lower refrigerant inlet pipe 70′ to the distributorbody 60 and the two-phase refrigerant downwardly flowing from the outletstage 72″ of the upper refrigerant inlet pipe 70″ to the distributorbody 60 may be mixed in the distributor body 60 and may be uniformlydistributed into the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84and 86, and concentration of liquid refrigerant in a portion of theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 80, 82, 84 and 86 may beminimized.

FIG. 4 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment.

The evaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ of this embodiment mayseparate the two-phase refrigerant expanded by the expansion mechanism 3into liquid refrigerant and gaseous refrigerant in the inside thereof,and may uniformly distribute the separated gaseous refrigerant and theliquid refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant discharge or outletpipes through a plurality of separate liquid refrigerant suction lines.The evaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ may be a gaseous-liquidseparator two-way header distributor. Otherwise, the configuration andoperations of this embodiment are similar to the previous embodiment,except for the evaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′, and thus,repetitive description thereof has been omitted.

The evaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ may include a distributorbody 160 in which a space S may be formed inside thereof, a refrigerantinlet pipe 170 to guide the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism 3 to a lower portion of the space S, a plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 through which therefrigerant in the space S may flow out of the distribution body, and aplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 toguide liquid refrigerant in a lower portion of the space S to theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186. A partitionwall 190 may be provided in the space S to separate the liquidrefrigerant and the gaseous refrigerant.

The distributor body 160 may include a circumferential portion 160 a, anupper plate 163 a formed at a top of the circumferential portion 160 a,and a lower plate 163 b formed at a bottom of the circumferentialportion 160 a. The distributor body 160 may extend in a substantiallyvertical direction in the air conditioner. The circumferential portion160 a may extend in a substantially vertical direction. Thecircumferential portion 160 a may be in the form of a hollow cylindricalshape or a hollow square bucket shape. The distributor body 160 may beformed with a refrigerant inlet pipe penetration hole 164 through whichthe refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may penetrate, and refrigerant outletpipe penetration holes 165, 166, 167 and 168 through which the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 may penetrate.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ is the evaporator inletheader distributor connected to the first heat exchanger 2, thedistributor body 160 may be formed to be located on a side of the firstheat exchanger 2. If the evaporator inlet header distributor is theevaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected to the second heatexchanger 4, the distributor body 160 may be installed to be located ona side of the second heat exchanger 4. The distributor body 160 may beinstalled to be separated from the evaporator outlet header pipe 6, 6′shown in FIG. 1, and the first heat exchanger 2 and the second heatexchanger 4 may each be disposed between the distributor body 160 andthe evaporator outlet header pipe 6, 6′ shown in FIG. 1.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, therefrigerant inlet pipe 170 may be connected to the expansion mechanismconnecting flow path 151 shown in FIG. 1. If the evaporator inlet headerdistributor is the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected tothe second heat exchanger 4, the refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may beconnected to the expansion mechanism connecting flow path 52 shown inFIG. 1. The refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may be disposed to penetrate thedistributor body 160. The refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may be installed onthe distributor body 160. An inlet stage 171 of the refrigerant inletpipe 170 through which the refrigerant may flow in may be locatedoutside of the distributor body 160, and an outlet stage 172 may belocated in the space S of the distributor body 160 from which therefrigerant may flow out. A refrigerant injecting direction of therefrigerant inlet pipe 170 may be determined in accordance with adirection of the outlet stage 172, and the outlet stage 172 may face thelower portion of the space S.

The refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may be obliquely disposed on thecircumferential portion 160 a of the distributor body 160. Therefrigerant inlet pipe 170 may be installed such that the outlet stage172 extends downward toward a lower portion 160 c of an inner surface ofthe circumferential portion 160 c, or may extend downward toward anupper surface 163 d of the lower plate 163 b of the distributor body160. In this case, the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerantguided to the refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may flow into the lowerportion, not the upper portion of the space S. The refrigerant inletpipe 170 may be installed such that the outlet stage 172 extendsupwardly toward an upper portion of the inner surface of thecircumferential portion 160 a of the distributor body 160, or may extendupwardly toward a lower surface 163 c of the upper plate 163 a of thedistributor body 160. In this case, the gaseous refrigerant and theliquid refrigerant guided to the refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may flowinto the upper portion of the space S. The refrigerant inlet pipe 170may be installed such that the liquid refrigerant does not directly flowinto an inlet stage 188 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes180, 182, 184 and 186. Rather, the outlet stage 172 may be orientedtoward the lower portion 160 c of the inner surface of thecircumferential portion 160 a of the distributor body 160, or may beoriented toward the upper surface 163 d of the lower plate 163 b of thedistributor body 160.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 may each beconnected to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24of the first heat exchanger 2. The evaporator inlet header distributor5′ may be each connected such that the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes may be connected to the refrigerant flow path of the first heatexchanger 2 one by one.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5 connected to the second heat exchanger 4, theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 may each beconnected to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44of the second heat exchanger 4. In the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5, the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes may each beconnected to the refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger 4one by one.

The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 maypenetrate the distributor body 160. The plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 may be separated from the distributor body160. The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 maybe inserted into the upper portion of the space S. The inlet stage 188of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 mayeach be located in the space S, and an outlet stage 189 may be locatedoutside of the distributor body 160.

The inlet stage 188 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 186 located at alowest side may have a height from the lower plate 163 b of thedistributor body 160 higher than the partition wall 190. In other words,the height H1 between the inlet stage 188 of the refrigerant outlet pipe186 located on the lowest side of the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 and the lower plate 163 b of the distributorbody 160 may be higher than the height H2 between the partition wall 190and the lower plate 163 b of the distributor body 160. As the evaporatorinlet header distributor 5 may function as a gaseous-liquid separator,only the gaseous refrigerant in the inlet stage 188 or mainly thegaseous refrigerant may be introduced into the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186, and the inlet stage 188 may be agaseous refrigerant inlet portion.

The plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195may guide the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the lower portion of thespace S of the distributor body 160 to the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186. The plurality of liquid refrigerantsuction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 may be connected to the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184, and 186 at a location separatedfrom the inlet stage 188 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes180, 182, 184 and 186. A bottom 197 of the plurality of liquidrefrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 may be separated fromthe lower plate 163 b of the distributor body 160. A top 198 of theplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 maybe connected to a portion of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes180, 182, 184 and 186 located in the distributor body 160. The pluralityof liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 may beconnected to the refrigerant outlet pipe one by one, and may beconnected to one refrigerant outlet pipe. If the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 have different heights,the plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195may have different heights.

The partition wall 190 may be a gaseous-liquid separation plate by whichthe refrigerant introduced into the space S through the refrigerantinlet pipe 170 may be separated into gaseous refrigerant and liquidrefrigerant. The liquid refrigerant that impacts on the partition wall190 introduced into the space S through the refrigerant inlet pipe 170may be blocked by the partition wall 190, and thus, may not flow to theupper side of the space S and may fall into the lower portion of thespace S by gravity. The gaseous refrigerant that impacts on thepartition wall 190 in the refrigerant introduced into the space Sthrough the refrigerant inlet pipe 170 may pass between the partitionwall 190 and the distributor body 160, or may flow into the upperportion of the space S by passing the partition wall 190.

The partition wall 190 may be plate-shaped. The partition wall 190 maydivide the space S into a lower side space S1 in which both the liquidrefrigerant and the gaseous refrigerant are located on the inner side ofthe circumferential portion 160 a of the distributor body 160 and anupper side space S2 in which the gaseous refrigerant is passed betweenthe partition wall 190 and the distributor body 160, or the gaseousrefrigerant that passed the partition wall 190 flows.

The partition wall 190 may have a height from the lower plate 163 b ofthe distributor body 160 higher than the outlet stage 172 of therefrigerant inlet pipe 170. In other words, the height H2 between thepartition wall 190 and the lower plate 163 b of the distributor body 160may be higher than the height H3 between the outlet stage 172 of therefrigerant inlet pipe 170 and the lower plate 163 b of the distributorbody 160.

The partition wall 190 may be disposed to have a gap 191 and an innerperipheral surface of the distributor body 160. The partition wall 190may be in the form of a plate formed smaller than a cross-sectional areaof the circumferential portion 160 a in a horizontal direction. Theplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 maypenetrate the gap 191. The gaseous refrigerant in the refrigerantintroduced into the space S through the refrigerant inlet pipe 170 mayflow into the upper portion of the space S by passing through the gap191.

Alternatively, an overall outer circumference of the partition wall 190may be close to an inner peripheral surface of the distributor body 160,and a hole passing the gaseous refrigerant or a hole(s) that the suctionline(s) penetrate may be separately formed, or a hole through which thegaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant suction lines penetratetogether may be formed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional diagram of a refrigerantoutlet pipe and a liquid refrigerant suction line in the evaporatorinlet header distributor of FIG. 4. The plurality of liquid refrigerantsuction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 may each have an internalcross-sectional area smaller than the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 180, 182, 184 and 186. In other words, the internalcross-sectional area D1 of the liquid refrigerant suction lines 192,193, 194 and 195 may be smaller than the internal cross-sectional areaD2 of the refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186.

Hereinafter, operation of an evaporator inlet header distributorconfigured as described above will be explained as follows.

First, when performing the heating operation of the air conditioner,gaseous refrigerant at high-temperature and high-pressure may bedischarged from the compressor 1 and may be condensed in the first heatexchanger 2, which may function as a condenser. The refrigerantcondensed in the first heat exchanger 2 may be expanded by expansionmechanism 3, and the refrigerant of mixed liquid refrigerant and gaseousrefrigerant may flow into the evaporator inlet header distributor 5connected to the second heat exchanger 4, which may function as anevaporator. The refrigerant having flowed into the evaporator inletheader distributor 5 may be introduced into distributor body 160 throughthe refrigerant inlet pipe 170, and may be introduced into the lowerportion of the space S of the distributor body 160. The liquidrefrigerant in the refrigerant introduced into the lower portion of thespace S of the distributor body 160 may collect in the lower portion ofthe space S, without being elevated to the upper portion of the space S,and after the gaseous refrigerant flows into the upper portion of thespace S, it may be suctioned into each inlet stage 188 of the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 to be distributed tothe plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186. Theliquid refrigerant may collected in the lower portion of the space S ofthe distributor body 60, and be dispersed and introduced into theplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195. Theliquid refrigerant introduced into the plurality of liquid refrigerantsuction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 may be elevated along the pluralityof liquid refrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 to reach theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 and may bemixed with the gaseous refrigerant suctioned through the inlet stage 188of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186.After being combined, the mixed gaseous refrigerant and liquidrefrigerant may flow, and the two-phase refrigerant may be uniformlydistributed to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44of the evaporator and evaporated. The refrigerant evaporated in each ofthe plurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44 may beintroduced into the evaporator outlet header pipe 6 connected to thesecond heat exchanger 4, and may be again mixed in the evaporator outletheader pipe 6. The refrigerant may flow into the compressor 1, and thecompressor 1 may compress the refrigerant evaporated in the second heatexchanger 4, which may function as an evaporator.

When performing the cooling operation of the air conditioner, thegaseous refrigerant at high-temperature and high-pressure may bedischarged from the compressor 1 and may be condensed in the second heatexchanger 4, which may function as a condenser. The refrigerantcondensed in the second heat exchanger 4 may be expanded by theexpansion mechanism 3, and the mixed liquid refrigerant and gaseousrefrigerant may flow into the evaporator inlet header distributor 5′connected to the first heat exchanger 2, which may function as anevaporator. The evaporator inlet header distributor 5′ connected to thefirst heat exchanger 2, similar to the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5 connected to the second heat exchanger 4, may separate thegaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant and then, may disperse thegaseous refrigerant to each inlet stage 188 of the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186, and may disperse theliquid refrigerant to the plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines192, 193, 194 and 195. The gaseous refrigerant suctioned into the inletstage 188 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and186 and the liquid refrigerant suctioned into the plurality of liquidrefrigerant suction lines 192, 193, 194 and 195 may be mixed at acombined point of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182,184 and 186 and the plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192,193, 194 and 195, and the mixed two-phase refrigerant may be uniformlydistributed to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24of the evaporator and evaporated. The refrigerant evaporated in each ofthe plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24 may beintroduced into the evaporator outlet header pipe 6′ connected to thefirst heat exchanger 2 and may be again mixed in the evaporator outletheader pipe 6′. The refrigerant may flow into the compressor 1, and thecompressor 1 may compress the refrigerant evaporated in the first heatexchanger 2, which may function as an evaporator.

FIG. 6 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment. In the air conditioner according to this embodiment, aplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192′, 193′, 194′ and 195′may be connected with a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182,184 and 186 outside of the distributor body 160. As the configurationand operation of the air conditioner of this embodiment is similar tothe previous embodiment, except for the a plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 and the plurality of liquidrefrigerant suction lines 192′, 193′, 194′ and 195′, and repetitivedescription has been omitted.

One end 197′ of each of the plurality of liquid refrigerant suctionlines 192′, 193′, 194′ and 195′ may be connected to lower plate 163 b ofthe distributor body 160 or a lower portion of circumferential portion160 a of the distributor body 160. Another end 198′ of the each of theplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192′, 193′, 194′ and 195may be connected to a portion of the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 located outside of the distributor body 160.

In the air conditioner according to this embodiment, the two-phaserefrigerant having flowed into the inside of the distributor body 160through refrigerant inlet pipe 170 after being expanded in expansionmechanism 3 may be separated into gaseous refrigerant and the liquidrefrigerant in the distributor body 160, and liquid refrigerant and theseparated gaseous refrigerant may be dispersed and flow into theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184 and 186 through eachinlet stage 188 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182,184 and 186, as in the previous embodiment. The gaseous refrigerant andthe separated liquid refrigerant may be collected in the lower portionof the space S of the distributor body 160, and may be dispersed andflow into the plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines 192′, 193′,194′ and 195′. The liquid refrigerant having flowed into the pluralityof liquid refrigerant suction lines 192′, 193′, 194′ and 195′ may beintroduced into the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 180, 182, 184and 186 from outside of the distributor body 160, and may be mixed withthe gaseous refrigerant suctioned in the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 180, 182, 184 and 186. The mixed two-phase refrigerant may beuniformly dispersed into the plurality of refrigerant flow paths of theevaporator, and then, may be compressed in the compressor 1, as in theprevious embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment. The evaporator inlet header distributor 5, 5′ according tothis embodiment may include a distributor body 260, a refrigerant inletpipe 270, and a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and286. The refrigerant may be introduced into the distributor body 260through the refrigerant inlet pipe 270, and then, may be distributedinto the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 inthe distributor body 260. The refrigerant distributed into the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be guided to theplurality of refrigerant flow paths of the evaporator.

The distributor body 260 may include a header flow path 302 to which theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may beconnected, and a return flow path 304 connected to an upper side and thelower side of the header flow path 302 to connect the upper side and thelower side of the header flow path 302. In the distributor body 260, anarea to which the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284,and 286 is connected, inner flow path P4, may be the header flow path302 and areas other than that area, inner flow path P5, may be thereturn flow path 304.

The evaporator inlet header distributor according to this embodiment andthe following embodiments solve problems associated with the prior art.That is, with prior art structures, due to the difference in inertiabetween the refrigerant in a gaseous state and the refrigerant in aliquid state, the liquid refrigerant tended to gather at a top of thedistributor, so that a greater amount of liquid refrigerant wasintroduced to the upper refrigerant outlet pipes. With the evaporatorinlet header distributor according to this embodiment, a centrallongitudinal axis of which is substantially vertically oriented, returnpath 304 may be provided, which may direct the gathered liquidrefrigerant back into header flow path 304 utilizing gravity. Further, alow pressure area may be created adjacent to a high pressure areacreated by refrigerant inlet pipe 270, which allows the liquidrefrigerant in the return flow path 302 to easily flow into the headerflow path 302 and join the refrigerant being introduced via therefrigerant inlet pipe 270. This results in a more even distribution oftwo-phase refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280,282, 284, and 286.

The header flow path 302 may extend in a substantially verticaldirection. In the header flow path 302, the inner flow path P4 mayextend in a substantially vertical direction. Refrigerant outlet pipepenetration holes 255, 256, 257 and 258, through which the refrigerantoutlet pipes may penetrate, may be formed on the header flow path 302.

The return flow path 304 may return two-phase refrigerant, beingsupplied from the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 to the header flow path302, to the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 side. If the return flow path 304does not exist, the liquid refrigerant may be concentrated at a sideopposed to of the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 in the header flow path302, and the liquid refrigerant may be excessively introduced into therefrigerant outlet pipe 280 positioned a longer distance from therefrigerant inlet pipe 270 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes280, 282, 284 and 286. On the other hand, if the return flow path 304does exist, a portion of liquid refrigerant located on the side opposedto the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 in the header flow path 302 may againflow into the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 along the return flow pathportion 304, and concentration of liquid refrigerant into the sideopposed to the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 of the header flow path 302may be minimized. If the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 supplies thetwo-phase refrigerant from the lower side of the header flow path 302,the return flow path 304 may guide the refrigerant having flowed intothe upper side of the header flow path 302 to the lower side of theheader flow path 302. If the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 supplies thetwo-phase refrigerant from the upper side of the header flow path 302 tothe header flow path 302, the return flow path 304 may guide therefrigerant having flowed into the lower side of the header flow path302 to the upper side of the header flow path 302. The return flow path304 may be located outside of the header flow path 302, may be connectedto a top of the header flow path 302, or may be connected to a bottom ofthe header flow path 302.

The distributor body 260 may include a first pipe 260 a into which theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 maypenetrate, a second pipe 260 b separate from the first pipe 260 a, anupper connecting pipe 263 a to connect an upper portion of the firstpipe 260 a and an upper portion of the second pipe 260 b, and a lowerconnecting pipe 263 b to connect a lower portion of the first pipe 260 aand a lower portion of the second pipe 260 b. The first pipe 260 a maybe in the form of a straight tube extending in a substantially verticaldirection. The second pipe 260 a may be in the form of a straight tubeor a curved tube shape. The second pipe 260 b may be separate from thefirst pipe 260 a.

The upper connecting pipe 263 a may be in the form of a curved tubeshape. The upper connecting pipe 263 a may have a flow path having a ‘∩’shape formed inside thereof.

The lower connecting pipe 263 b may be in the form of a curved tubeshape. The lower connecting pipe 263 b may have a flow path having a ‘∪’shape formed inside thereof.

In the distributor body 260, the first pipe 260 a may comprise theheader flow path 302, and the second pipe 260 a, the upper connectingpipe 263 a, and the lower connecting pipe 263 b may comprise the returnflow path portion 304. Alternatively, the upper connecting pipe 263 a,the first pipe 260 a, and the lower connecting pipe 263 b may be theheader flow path 302, and the second pipe 260 b may be the return flowpath 304.

Based on a vertical center axis VX, a portion of the upper connectingpipe 263, a portion of the first pipe 260 a, and a portion of the lowerconnecting pipe 263 b may be considered the header flow path portion302, and the rest of the upper connecting pipe 263 a, the rest of thesecond pipe 260 b, and lower connecting pipe 263 b may be considered thereturn flow path 304. If the refrigerant outlet pipes are located on aleft side of the header flow path 302, the return flow path 304 may belocated on an upper side, a right side, and a lower side of the headerflow path 302. If the refrigerant outlet pipes are located on the rightside of the header flow path 302, the return flow path 304 may belocated on the upper side, the left side, and the lower side of theheader flow path 302.

The refrigerant inlet pipe penetration hole 269 in the distributor body260, through which the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may penetrate, may beformed on any one of the header flow path 302 and the return flow path304. Further, the refrigerant inlet pipe penetration hole 269 may beformed on a lower side of the header flow path 302.

If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporator inletheader distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, therefrigerant inlet pipe 270 may be connected to the expansion mechanismconnecting flow path 51 shown in FIG. 1. If the evaporator inlet headerdistributor is the evaporator inlet header distributor 5 connected tothe second heat exchanger 4, the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may beconnected to the expansion mechanism connecting flow path 52 shown inFIG. 1. The refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may penetrate the distributorbody 260, or may be disposed to be connected to the distributor body260. The refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may be installed in the distributorbody 260. An inlet stage 271 of the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may belocated outside of the distributor body 260, the refrigerant being inputthrough the inlet stage 271, and an outlet stage 272 may be locatedinside of the distributor body 260. In the refrigerant inlet pipe 270, arefrigerant injecting direction may correspond to a direction of theoutlet stage 272. The refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may guide therefrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism 3 to any one of theheader flow path 302 or the return flow path 304. The outlet stage 272may face an upper portion or a lower portion of the header flow path302. The refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may be installed in a lower portionof the distributor body 260. The outlet stage 272 may be formed at a topof the refrigerant inlet pipe 270, and may face the header flow path302. The refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may extend in the same direction orin a direction parallel to the header flow path 302.

The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 mayguide the refrigerant of the header flow path 302 to the refrigerantflow path of the evaporator. One refrigerant outlet pipe may beconnected to one refrigerant flow path of the evaporator, the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes may be connected to one refrigerant flowpath of the evaporator, and one refrigerant outlet pipe may be connectedto the plurality of refrigerant flow paths of the evaporator.Hereinafter, for the convenience, it will be described that onerefrigerant outlet pipe is connected to one refrigerant flow path of theevaporator. If the evaporator inlet header distributor is the evaporatorinlet header distributor 5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be eachconnected to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24of the first heat exchanger 2. In the evaporator inlet headerdistributor 5′, one refrigerant outlet pipe may be connected to eachrefrigerant flow path of the first heat exchanger 2. If the evaporatorinlet header distributor is the evaporator inlet header distributor 5connected to the second heat exchanger 4, the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be connected each to theplurality of refrigerant flow paths 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the second heatexchanger 4. In the evaporator inlet header distributor 5, onerefrigerant outlet pipe may be connected each to one refrigerant flowpath of the second heat exchanger 4.

The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may beinstalled by penetrating the header flow path 302. The plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be installed to beseparated from the header flow path 302. The plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be inserted into the header flowpath 302 of the distributor body 260. Each inlet stage 288 of theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may belocated on the header flow path P4, and each outlet stage 289 thereofmay be located outside of the distributor body 260. The inlet stage 288of each of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and286 may be disposed to be opposed to an inner wall of the header flowpath 302. The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and286 may extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinaldirection of the header flow path 302. The plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be installed to have a heightdifference in the header flow path 302. An uppermost side refrigerantoutlet pipe 280 in the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282,284 and 286 may have a height lower than a top of the header flow path302, or a height equal to a top of the header flow path 302. The lowestside refrigerant outlet pipe 286 of the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may have a height higher than a bottom ofthe header flow path 302, or a height equal to a bottom of the headerflow path 302.

Hereinafter, operation of an evaporator inlet header distributorconfigured as described above will be described as follows.

First, when performing the heating operation of the air conditioner,gaseous refrigerant at a high-temperature and high-pressure may bedischarged from the compressor 1 and may be condensed in the first heatexchanger 2, which may function as a condenser. The refrigerantcondensed in the first heat exchanger 2 may be expanded by the expansionmechanism 3, and the two-phase refrigerant of liquid refrigerant andgaseous refrigerant may flow into the evaporator inlet refrigerantdistributor 5 connected to the second heat exchanger 4, which mayfunction as an evaporator. The two-phase refrigerant having flowed intothe evaporator inlet refrigerant distributor 5 may flow into thedistributor body 260 through the refrigerant inlet pipe 270, and therefrigerant introduced into the distributor body 260 may flow in anupward direction while passing along the inner flow path P4 of theheader flow path 302. At this time, some of the refrigerant may bedischarged into the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284and 286 through inlet stage 288 of the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 280, 282, 284 and 286, and the rest of two-phase refrigerant maybe introduced into inner flow path P5 of the return flow path 304. Therefrigerant introduced into the inner flow path P5 flows along thereturn flow path P5, and then, may be again introduced into the innerflow path P4 of the header flow path 302. At this time, the refrigerantmay be mixed with two-phase refrigerant newly introduced through theoutlet stage 272 of the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 and may again flowinto the inner flow path P4 of the header flow path 302. As such, if thetwo-phase refrigerant is re-introduced into the header flow path 302through the return flow path 304, the air conditioner may uniformlydistribute the two-phase refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286, without concentrating liquidrefrigerant to the upper portion of the header flow path 302.

When performing the cooling operation of the air conditioner, gaseousrefrigerant at a high-temperature and high-pressure may be dischargedfrom the compressor 1 and may be condensed in the second heat exchanger4, which may function as a condenser. The refrigerant condensed in thesecond heat exchanger 4 may be expanded in the expansion mechanism 3,and the two-phase refrigerant of liquid refrigerant and gaseousrefrigerant may flow into the evaporator inlet refrigerant distributor5′ connected to the first heat exchanger 2, which may function as anevaporator. Of the two-phase refrigerant having flowed into theevaporator inlet refrigerant distributor 5′ connected to the first heatexchanger 2, the refrigerant which is not introduced into the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be introduced intothe inner flow path P4 of the header flow path 302 through the innerflow path P5 of the return flow path 304, as when performing the heatingoperation of the air conditioner, and the two-phase refrigerant may beuniformly distributed into the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes280, 282, 284 and 286. The two-phase refrigerant may be uniformlyevaporated in the plurality of refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24of the evaporator. The refrigerant evaporated in each of the pluralityof refrigerant flow paths 21, 22, 23 and 24 may be introduced into theevaporator outlet header pipe 6′ connected to the first heat exchanger2, which may function as an evaporator, and may be again mixed in theevaporator outlet header pipe 6′. Then, the refrigerant may again flowinto the compressor 1, and the compressor 1 may compress the refrigerantevaporated in the first heat exchanger 2, which may function as anevaporator.

FIG. 8 a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment. In the air conditioner according to this embodiment, thedistributor body 260′ may include a header flow path 302′ and a returnflow path 304′, and the refrigerant inlet pipe 270′ and the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may be connected to theheader flow path 302′.

The header flow path 302′ may be configured as a header pipe in which atop and bottom thereof may be closed and the inner flow path P4 may beformed inside thereof. The inner flow path P4 may extend in asubstantially vertical or up and down direction and a top and bottomthereof may be closed. The header flow path 302′ may include a pipe 260a, an upper plate 263 a which closes a top of the pipe 260 a, and alower plate 263 b which closes a bottom of the pipe 260 a. The pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipe penetration holes 255, 256, 257 and 258 maybe formed in the pipe 260 a. The refrigerant suction line penetrationhole 269 may be formed in the lower plate 263 b.

In the return flow path 304′, an upper portion 304 a′ may be connectedto an upper portion of the pipe 260 a in the header flow path 302′, anda lower portion 304 b′ may be connected to a lower portion of the pipe260 a of the header pipe 302′ or the lower plate 263 b. In the returnflow path 304′, the inner flow path P5 may be in the form of a ‘

’ shape or ‘C’ shape. In the return flow path 304′, the upper portion304 a′ may be connected to a location lower than an uppermost siderefrigerant outlet pipe 280 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes280, 282, 284 and 286.

In the refrigerant inlet pipe 270′, only the installation locationthereof may be different from the previous embodiment, the configurationand operation may be identical or similar to the previous embodiments,and repetitive description has been omitted.

FIG. 9 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to anotherembodiment. With the air conditioner according to this embodiment, aseparating plate 290 may be disposed in a distributor body 260″ in whicha header flow path 302″ and a return flow path 304″ are divided, and atop 292 of the separating plate 290 may be separated from a top of thedistributor body 260″. In addition, a bottom 294 of the separating plate290 may be separated from a bottom of the distributor body 260″. As theconfiguration and operation, except for the distributor body 260″ andthe separating plate 290, are identical or similar to the previousembodiment, repetitive description has been omitted.

The distributor body 260″ may extend in the air conditioner in asubstantially vertical or up and down direction. In the distributor body260″, the pipe 260 a″ may extend in the substantially vertical or up anddown direction, and upper portion 263 a″ and lower portion 263 b″ may beroundly formed. The pipe 260 a″ may extend in the up and down direction,the upper portion 263 a″ may be formed on a top of the pipe 260 a″, andthe lower portion 263 b″ may be formed on a bottom of the pipe 260 a″.The pipe 260 a″ may be in the form of a hollow cylindrical shape or ahollow square bucket shape. In the distributor body 260″, if the upperportion 263 a″ and the lower portion 263 a″ are roundly formed, thetwo-phase refrigerant of the header flow path P4 may be easily returnedto the inner flow path P4 by rotating along the inner flow path P5, theupper portion 263 a″, and the lower portion 263 b″ of the distributorbody 260″. The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipe penetration holes255, 256, 257 and 258, through which the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 280, 282, 284 and 286 may penetrate may be formed, and therefrigerant inlet pipe penetration hole 269, through which therefrigerant inlet pipe 270 may penetrate.

The outlet stage 272 of the refrigerant inlet pipe 270 may be disposedto guide the refrigerant to the inside of the header flow path 302″. Therefrigerant inlet pipe 270 may penetrate the lower portion 263 b″ of thedistributor body 260″, and the refrigerant inlet pipe penetration hole269 may be formed on the lower portion 263 b″ of the distributor body260″ in the substantially vertical or up and down direction. The inletstage 288 of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284,286 may be installed to face the separating plate 290.

The separating plate 290 may separate the inside of the distributor body260″ into the inner flow path P4 and the inner flow path P5. A side ofthe separating plate 290 at which the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes 280, 282, 284 and 284 in the pipe 261″ penetrate may be the innerpath P4. A side of the separating plate 290 opposed to the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 284 may form the inner flowpath P5. A top of the header flow path P4 may be connected with theinner flow path P5, and a bottom thereof may be connected with the innerflow path P5. A cross-sectional shape of an upper portion of the innerflow path P5 may be connected with the inner flow path P4 in the form ofa ‘∩’ shape, and a cross-sectional shape of a lower portion thereof maybe connected with the header flow path P4 in the form of the ‘∪’ shape.

FIG. 10 is a schematic internal cross-sectional diagram of an evaporatorinlet header distributor in an air conditioner according to an anotherembodiment. In the air conditioner according to this embodiment, theseparating plate 290 may be disposed in the distributor body 260″ andthe outlet stage 272 of the refrigerant inlet pipe 270″ may be disposedto guide the refrigerant to flow to the return flow path 304″, and asthe configuration and operation of the air conditioner of thisembodiment is identical or similar to the previous embodiment, exceptfor the outlet stage 272 of the refrigerant outlet pipe 270, likereference numerals may be used, and repetitive description has beenomitted. The distributor body 260″ and the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes 280, 282, 284 and 284 may be configured as in the previousembodiment.

In the refrigerant inlet pipe 270″, the outlet stage 272 may beinstalled to be connected with the return flow path P5; the two-phaserefrigerant may be firstly introduced into the return flow path P5through the outlet stage 272 of the refrigerant inlet pipe 270″. Thetwo-phase refrigerant introduced into the return flow path P5 may flowalong the return flow path P5 in an upper direction and pass between atop 292 of the separating plate 290 and an upper portion 263 a″ of thedistributor body 260″, and then, may flow into the header flow path P4.A portion of the refrigerant having flowed into the header flow path P4may be distributed into the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 280,282, 284 and 286, and the rest may be flow into a lower side of theheader flow path P4. The two-phase refrigerant having flowed into thelower side of the header flow path P4 may be pass between a bottom 294of the separating plate 290 and a lower portion of the distributor body260″ and then, may be mixed with the two-phase refrigerant newlyintroduced through the outlet stage 272 of the refrigerant inlet pipe270″ in a vicinity of the outlet stage 272 of the refrigerant inlet pipe270″. The mixed two-phase refrigerant may flow to an upper portion ofthe return flow path P5. As the two-phase refrigerant circulates alongthe return flow path P5 and the header flow path P4, the liquidrefrigerant may not be concentrated to the upper portion or lowerportion of the header flow path P4, and the two-phase refrigerant may beuniformly distributed into the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes280, 282, 284 and 286.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner in which atwo-phase refrigerant of liquid refrigerant and gaseous refrigerant maybe dispersed in a substantially vertical or up and down direction, andflowed into a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes, and thus, thetwo-phase refrigerant may be uniformly distributed to the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes.

An air conditioner according to embodiments disclosed herein may includean evaporator in which a plurality of refrigerant flow paths are formedto evaporate a refrigerant, a compressor to compress the refrigerantevaporated in the evaporator, a condenser to condense the refrigerantcompressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism to expand therefrigerant condensed in the condenser, and an evaporator inlet headerdistributor to distribute the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths. The evaporatorinlet header distributor may include a distributor body, a refrigerantinlet pipe to guide the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanismto an inside of the distributor body, a plurality of refrigerant outletpipes to discharge the refrigerant of the distributor body into theplurality of refrigerant flow paths, and a separating plate to separatethe inside of the distributor body into a header flow path connectedwith the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes and a refrigerantdispersing flow path connected with the refrigerant inlet pipe to guidean upper portion and a lower portion of the header flow path bydispersing the refrigerant.

The header flow path and the refrigerant dispersing flow path may beeach connected at an upper side and a lower side thereof. The separatingplate may have a top that is separated from a top of the distributorbody, and a bottom that is separated from a bottom of the distributorbody

A single refrigerant inlet pipe may be connected to one side of left andright sides of the distributor body, and the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes may penetrate at the other side of left and right sides ofthe distributor body, based on a vertical center axis of the distributorbody. The refrigerant inlet pipe may have an outlet stage installed tobe opposite to the separating plate. The separating plate may bevertically disposed on the inside of the distributor body.

The separating plate may have a distance from the refrigerant inlet pipeshorter than that from the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes.

An air conditioner according embodiments disclosed herein may include anevaporator in which a plurality of refrigerant flow paths are formed toevaporate a refrigerant, a compressor to compress the refrigerantevaporated in the evaporator, a condenser to condense the refrigerantcompressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism to expand therefrigerant condensed in the condenser, and an evaporator inlet headerdistributor to distribute the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths. The evaporatorinlet header distributor may include a distributor body formed with aheader flow path in an inside thereof, a plurality of refrigerant outletpipes to discharge the refrigerant of the distributor body into theplurality of refrigerant flow paths, a lower refrigerant inlet pipe toguide the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to a lowerportion of the header flow path, and an upper refrigerant inlet pipe toguide the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to an upperportion of the header flow path. An outlet stage of the lowerrefrigerant inlet pipe and an outlet stage of the upper refrigerantinlet pipe may be disposed to face each other in a substantiallyvertical or up and down direction.

The lower refrigerant inlet pipe may be connected to a lower plate ofthe distributor body, and the upper refrigerant inlet pipe may beconnected to an upper plate of the distributor body. The outlet stage ofthe lower refrigerant inlet pipe and the outlet stage of the upperrefrigerant inlet pipe may be located at a vertical center axis of thedistributor body.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide an advantage in that two-phaserefrigerant may be uniformly distributed to the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes using a simple structure. In addition, embodimentsdisclosed herein provide an advantage in that two-phase refrigerant maybe dispersed and introduced into an upper portion and a lower portion ofa header flow path in a substantially vertical or up and down direction,and thus, liquid refrigerant being concentrated to a portion of aplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes may be minimized.

In addition, embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner inwhich it can be minimized that liquid refrigerant may be concentrated toa portion of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths of the evaporatorand an overall efficiency of an evaporator may be improved.

An air conditioner according to embodiments disclosed herein may includean evaporator in which a plurality of refrigerant flow paths may beformed to evaporate a refrigerant, a compressor to compress therefrigerant evaporated in the evaporator, a condenser to condense therefrigerant compressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism toexpand the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, and an evaporatorinlet header distributor to distribute the refrigerant expanded in theexpansion mechanism to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths. Theevaporator inlet header distributor may include a header body formedwith a space in an inside thereof, a refrigerant inlet pipe to guide therefrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to a lower portion ofthe space and a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes in which therefrigerant of the space is discharged to the refrigerant flow path, andthe plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes may be each connected with aliquid refrigerant suction line to guide a liquid refrigerant of a lowerportion of the space. The refrigerant inlet pipe may have an outletstage that turns to a lower portion of an inner peripheral surface ofthe distributor body or an upper surface of a lower plate of thedistributor body. The refrigerant inlet pipe may be obliquely disposedon the circumference portion of the distributor body.

The air conditioner may further include a partition wall installed inthe space to separate a liquid refrigerant and a gaseous refrigerant.The partition wall may be disposed to have a gap from the innerperipheral surface of the distributor body, and the liquid refrigerantsuction line may penetrate the gap.

The partition wall may have a height from a lower plate of thedistributor body higher than the outlet stage of the refrigerant inletpipe.

The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes may have an inlet stage of arefrigerant outlet pipe located on a lowest side that has a height froma lower plate of the distributor body higher than the partition wall.The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes may be inserted into an upperportion of the space.

The liquid refrigerant suction lines may be connected to a locationseparated from an inlet stage of the refrigerant outlet pipe. The liquidrefrigerant suction lines may have an internal cross-sectional areasmaller than the refrigerant outlet pipe. A bottom of the liquidrefrigerant suction lines may be separated from a lower plate of thedistributor body. A top of the liquid refrigerant suction lines may beconnected to a portion located on the inside of the distributor body ofthe refrigerant outlet pipes.

An end of the liquid refrigerant suction lines may connected to a lowerplate of the distributor body or a lower portion of the circumferenceportion of the distributor body, and the other end of the liquidrefrigerant suction lines may be connected to a portion located on theoutside of the distributor body of the refrigerant outlet pipes.

Embodiments disclosed herein have advantages in that, as the two-phaserefrigerant having flowed from the expansion mechanism into theevaporator inlet header distributor may be separated into gaseousrefrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and the gaseous refrigerantsuctioned into the refrigerant outlet pipes after being separated fromthe liquid refrigerant may be again mixed with the liquid refrigerantsuctioned in the liquid refrigerant suction lines after being separatedfrom the gaseous refrigerant, it may be minimized that the liquidrefrigerant may be concentrated into a portion of the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths of the evaporator, and two-phase refrigerant maybe uniformly distributed into the plurality of refrigerant flow paths ofthe evaporator to increase the efficiency of the evaporator.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner forming a returnflow path portion to guide the liquid refrigerant without beingconcentrated to one side.

An air conditioner according to embodiments disclosed herein may includean evaporator in which a plurality of refrigerant flow paths may beformed to evaporate a refrigerant, a compressor to compress therefrigerant evaporated in the evaporator; a condenser to condense therefrigerant compressed in the compressor, an expansion mechanism toexpand the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, and an evaporatorinlet header distributor to distribute the refrigerant expanded in theexpansion mechanism to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths. Theevaporator inlet header distributor may include a plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes connected to the refrigerant flow path, adistributor body having a header flow path to which the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes may be connected, and a return flow pathportion each connected to an upper side and a lower side of the headerflow path portion to connect an upper side and a lower side of theheader flow path portion, and a refrigerant inlet pipe to guide therefrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to one of the headerflow path portion and the return flow path portion.

The refrigerant inlet pipe may be installed in a lower portion of thedistributor body. The refrigerant inlet pipe may have an outlet stageformed on a top of the refrigerant inlet pipe to be turned to the headerflow path portion.

The return flow path portion may guide the refrigerant having flowedinto an upper side of the header flow path portion to a lower side tothe header flow path portion. The distributor body may be formed with aseparating plate in the inside thereof, the header flow path portion andthe return flow path portion being divided by the separating plate.

The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes may have an inlet stageinstalled to be opposite to the separating plate. A top of theseparating plate may be separated from a top of the distributor body,and a bottom of the separating plate may be separated from a bottom ofthe distributor body. The return flow path portion may have an upperportion connected to a location lower than an uppermost side refrigerantoutlet pipe of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes.

Embodiments disclosed herein advantage in that the return flow pathportion connected with the header flow path portion may be formed in thedistributor body to prevent the liquid refrigerant from beingconcentrated to the opposed side of the refrigerant inlet pipe in theheader flow path portion. In addition, as the liquid refrigerant, whichdoes not flow from the header flow path portion to the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipe, may flow into the return flow path portion,without congestion in the header flow path portion, and then may flowinto the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipe while again passing theheader flow path portion, it may be minimized that the liquidrefrigerant is congested and accumulated in the distributor body, andheat-exchanging performance of the evaporator may be increased.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air conditioner, comprising: an evaporatorcomprising a plurality of refrigerant flow paths that evaporate arefrigerant; a compressor that compresses the refrigerant evaporated inthe evaporator; a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed inthe compressor; an expansion mechanism that expands the refrigerantcondensed in the condenser; and an evaporator inlet header distributorthat distributes the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism tothe plurality of refrigerant flow paths, wherein the evaporator inletheader distributor comprises: a distributor body; at least onerefrigerant inlet pipe that guides the refrigerant expanded in theexpansion mechanism to an inside of the distributor body; and aplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes that discharges the refrigerant ofthe distributor body into the plurality of refrigerant flow paths,wherein refrigerant is directed in two opposite directions as therefrigerant flows into the distributor body through the at least onerefrigerant inlet pipe.
 2. The air conditioner of claim 1, furthercomprising a separating plate that separates the inside of thedistributor body into a header flow path connected with the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes and a refrigerant dispersing flow pathconnected with the at least one refrigerant inlet pipe to guiderefrigerant to an upper portion and a lower portion of the header flowpath by dispersing the refrigerant.
 3. The air conditioner of claim 2,wherein the two opposite directions are a substantially verticallyupward direction and a substantially vertically downward direction. 4.The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the header flow path and therefrigerant dispersing flow path are each connected at an upper side anda lower side thereof.
 5. The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein theseparating plate comprises a top, which is separated from a top of thedistributor body, and a bottom, which is separated from a bottom of thedistributor body.
 6. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the atleast one refrigerant inlet pipe comprises a single refrigerant inletpipe connected to one side of left and right sides of the distributorbody, and wherein the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes penetratesthe other side of left and right sides of the distributor body, based ona vertical center axis of the distributor body.
 7. The air conditionerof claim 6, wherein inlet ends of the plurality of refrigerant outletpipes extend a predetermined distance into the distributor body.
 8. Theair conditioner of claim 2, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipe has anoutlet stage installed to be opposite to the separating plate.
 9. Theair conditioner of claim 2, wherein the separating plate extendssubstantially vertically within the distributor body.
 10. The airconditioner of claim 2, wherein a distance of the separating plate fromthe at least one refrigerant inlet pipe is shorter than a distance ofthe separating plate from the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes. 11.The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the at least one refrigerantinlet pipe comprises: a first refrigerant inlet pipe that guides therefrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to a first portion ofthe header flow path; and an second refrigerant inlet pipe that guidesthe refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to a second portionof the header flow path.
 12. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein anoutlet of the first refrigerant inlet pipe and an outlet of the secondrefrigerant inlet pipe face each other in a substantially verticaldirection.
 13. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the firstrefrigerant inlet pipe is connected to a lower plate of the distributorbody, and the second refrigerant inlet pipe is connected to a secondplate of the distributor body.
 14. The air conditioner of claim 12,wherein the outlet of the lower refrigerant inlet pipe and the outlet ofthe upper refrigerant inlet pipe are located along a central verticalaxis of the distributor body.
 15. The air conditioner of claim 12,wherein inlet ends of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes extend apredetermined distance into the distributor body.
 16. The airconditioner of claim 12, wherein the first refrigerant inlet pipe andthe second refrigerant inlet pipe are branched from a separaterefrigerant distributor.
 17. An air conditioner, comprising: anevaporator comprising a plurality of refrigerant flow paths thatevaporate a refrigerant; a compressor that compresses the refrigerantevaporated in the evaporator; a condenser that condenses the refrigerantcompressed in the compressor; an expansion mechanism that expands therefrigerant condensed in the condenser; and an evaporator inlet headerdistributor that distributes the refrigerant expanded in the expansionmechanism to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths, wherein theevaporator inlet header distributor comprises: a distribution bodyhaving a space defined in an inside thereof; a refrigerant inlet pipethat guides the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to alower portion of the space; and a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipesby which refrigerant in the space is discharged to the plurality ofrefrigerant flow paths, wherein each of the plurality of refrigerantoutlet pipes is connected with one of a plurality of liquid refrigerantsuction lines to guide liquid refrigerant disposed in the lower portionof the space to the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes, respectively.18. The air conditioner of claim 17, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipehas an outlet stage that is inclined toward to a lower portion of aninner peripheral surface of the distributor body or an upper surface ofa lower plate of the distributor body.
 19. The air conditioner of claim18, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipe is obliquely disposed on acircumferential portion of the distributor body.
 20. The air conditionerof claim 17, further comprising: a partition wall installed in the spaceto separate liquid refrigerant and gaseous refrigerant.
 21. The airconditioner of claim 20, wherein a gap is provided between the partitionwall and an inner peripheral surface of the distributor body, and theplurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines penetrates the gap. 22.The air conditioner of claim 20, wherein a height of the partition wallfrom a lower plate of the distributor body is higher than an outletstage of the refrigerant inlet pipe.
 23. The air conditioner of claim20, wherein an inlet stage of a refrigerant outlet pipe of the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes located at a lowermost side has a heightfrom a lower plate of the distributor body higher than the partitionwall.
 24. The air conditioner of claim 20, wherein the plurality ofrefrigerant outlet pipes communicate with an upper portion of the space.25. The air conditioner of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality ofliquid refrigerant suction lines is connected to its respectiverefrigerant outlet pipe at a location separated from an inlet stage ofthe respective refrigerant outlet pipe.
 26. The air conditioner of claim17, wherein each of the plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lineshas an internal cross-sectional area smaller than an internalcross-sectional area of the respective refrigerant outlet pipe.
 27. Theair conditioner of claim 17, wherein a bottom of each of the pluralityof liquid refrigerant suction lines is separated from a lower plate ofthe distributor body.
 28. The air conditioner of claim 17, wherein a topof each of the plurality of liquid refrigerant suction lines isconnected to a portion of its respective refrigerant outlet pipe locatedinside of the distributor body.
 29. The air conditioner of claim 17,wherein a first end of each of the plurality of liquid refrigerantsuction lines is connected to a lower plate of the distributor body or alower portion of a circumferential portion of the distributor body, anda second end of each of the plurality of liquid refrigerant suctionlines is connected to a portion of its respective refrigerant outletpipe located outside of the distributor body.
 30. An air conditioner,comprising: an evaporator having a plurality of refrigerant flow pathsthat evaporate a refrigerant; a compressor that compresses therefrigerant evaporated in the evaporator; a condenser that condenses therefrigerant compressed in the compressor; an expansion mechanism thatexpands the refrigerant condensed in the condenser; and an evaporatorinlet header distributor that distributes the refrigerant expanded inthe expansion mechanism to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths,wherein the evaporator inlet header distributor comprises: a pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes connected to the plurality of refrigerantflow paths; a distributor body having a header flow path to which theplurality of refrigerant outlet pipes is connected, and a return flowpath connected to an upper side and a lower side of the header flowpath; and a refrigerant inlet pipe that guides the refrigerant expandedin the expansion mechanism to one of the header flow path or the returnflow path, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the distribution bodyextends in a substantially vertical direction.
 31. The air conditionerof claim 30, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipe is installed in a lowerportion of the distributor body.
 32. The air conditioner of claim 31,wherein an outlet of the refrigerant inlet pipe is formed at a top ofthe refrigerant inlet pipe and extends into the header flow path. 33.The air conditioner of claim 31, wherein the return flow path guides therefrigerant to flow into an upper side of the header flow path or to alower side of the header flow path.
 34. The air conditioner of claim 30,wherein a separating plate is provided inside of the distributor body,the header flow path and the return flow path being divided by theseparating plate.
 35. The air conditioner of claim 34, wherein an inletof the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes is disposed opposite to theseparating plate.
 36. The air conditioner of claim 35, wherein the inletof each of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes extends apredetermined distance into the distributor body.
 37. The airconditioner of claim 34, wherein a top of the separating plate isseparated from a top of the distributor body, and a bottom of theseparating plate is separated from a bottom of the distributor body 38.The air conditioner of claim 30, wherein the return flow path comprisesa separate pipe connected to an upper portion and a lower portion of thedistributor body.
 39. The air conditioner of claim 38, wherein thereturn flow path is connected to the upper at a location lower than aposition of an uppermost side refrigerant outlet pipe of the pluralityof refrigerant outlet pipes.
 40. The air conditioner of claim 38,wherein the return flow path is connected to the lower portion at alocation lower than a position of an lowermost side refrigerant outletpipe of the plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes.
 41. The airconditioner of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipe guides therefrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to the header flow path.42. The air conditioner of claim 30, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipeguides the refrigerant expanded in the expansion mechanism to the returnflow path